Rich Lazer knows a stronger economy begins with providing opportunity and he’s spent his entire career fighting to expand job creation, to ensure fair and equal wages, and for small business development. He believes that every worker should have an equal opportunity and that workers’ rights are protected.

Rich was involved in utilizing a $300 million capital investment by the state in 2016 aimed at creating 6,670 new direct and indirect jobs by 2020, benefiting many families in the region.

Rich helped create jobs at the Navy Yard, as well as numerous construction projects in the city of Philadelphia which employed thousands of union members in multiple trades from Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

As the son of working parents from a rowhome neighborhood, Rich understands that American values begin with family. For him, that means guaranteeing a $15 minimum wage, so anyone working 40 hours a week isn’t living in poverty and providing paid family leave to new moms and dads.

Protecting the civil rights of people of color, women, and the LGBTQ+ community are also foundational American values for Rich. That includes fighting against workplace harassment and sexual assault, protecting the voting rights of disenfranchised communities that Republicans have targeted, and recognizing that Black Lives Matter.

Rich believes in fighting for access to a quality education, regardless of gender, color, or socioeconomic status. He has worked with Mayor Kenney to fund early childhood education and is proud to have been part of an administration that is expanding Universal Pre-K in Philadelphia.

Rich understands that when childcare costs eat 25% of a parent’s paycheck, kids and families suffer. He knows that teacher compensation must reflect their importance to our children’s future.

As someone who still pays student loans, Rich wants to broaden student loan forgiveness so that working Americans aren’t paying off student debt well into their 40s and 50s.

Rich believes healthcare is a basic human right. Our President, and his Republican allies in Washington, think differently; making it critical that we protect the gains made by the Affordable Care Act, while working to put a single-payer Medicare-for-all system in place that includes coverage for pre-existing conditions and holistic treatment options for those who struggle with mental health issues.

The fact that women pay more, on average, for healthcare than men, while earning about 80 cents to each dollar men earn, is unconscionable. Rich stands with Planned Parenthood, and other organizations committed to women’s healthcare, that work to make sure that women have access to affordable care.

Rich will work to reduce drug prices for American people. Pharmaceutical firms who charge US citizens significantly more than they charge other industrialized countries for similar medications must be held accountable. The health and well-being of those in our country should never be compromised in the name of corporate interests.

During Rich’s time in the Mayor’s Office, Philadelphia reduced its local jail population by more than 20%. By reducing the incarceration rate of non-violent offenders, and eliminating the use of cash bail, the formula is in place to alleviate overcrowding in local jails across the country.

Working in conjunction with Philadelphia Works and organized labor, Rich worked to increase returning citizen’s ability to stay out of jail by establishing training and job programs and encouraging businesses to provide previously incarcerated people with meaningful job opportunities.

As part of a focus on providing nonviolent offenders with a second chance, Rich wants to end the criminalization of those who suffer from mental health issues, addiction and substance abuse, and he recognizes that treatment will make folks healthier, and better able to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.